After naming his provisional squad for the World Cup finals, Costa Rica coach
Jorge Luis Pinto will more than likely have Arsenal's on loan forward Joel
Campbell leading the line

Jorge Luis Pinto has named his provisional squad of 26 players and four reserves ahead of May 31, which is when his final 23 will be announced.

Those 26 have reported to camp, while the four reserves – Esteban Alvarado, Hansell Arauz, Jairo Arrieta and Ariel Rodríguez – remain on the Colombian manager's "waiting list."

"[This] is a base," Pinto said recently at a press conference in San Rafael de Alajuela. "The training camp can subtract or add, that I made clear. The players know that they have to give everything.”

Everton's Bryan Oviedo, who has been largely in question as to whether he'd be fit in time to make camp, was omitted due to the injury from which he is still recovering. Junior Díaz, Waylon Francis, and Heiner Mora will be competing for a spot in the defence.

Drawn in a tough group alongside Uruguay, Italy and England, Pinto will likely go with a five-man back line for each game. Perhaps one of los Ticos' greatest assets for this type of opposition is the man between the posts in Keylor Navas, who has had his work cut out for him in La Liga this year for Levante.

The 28 year old has been a contender for one of the top keepers in his league in 2014 with stellar performances, including a dazzling display against La Liga champions Atletico Madrid earlier this month.

Even without Oviedo, this back five could anchor down and defensively cause some headaches for teams like England and Italy by closing in and forcing their forwards and midfielders into difficult situations.

Right back Christian Gamboa and Giacarlo Gonzalez are likely shoe-ins to make the final 23 and not only can propel forward and attack from the back when necessary, but pose an aerial threat; especially Gonzalez. Johnny Acosta and Michael Umaña have done well with their teams, Alajuelense and Saprissa.

Joel Campbell, Olympiakos's 21-year-old Arsenal loanee, scored nine goals and 10 assists in all competitions and will undoubtedly be one of Pinto's star men at the helm of this team's scoring efforts. He'll join Bryan Ruiz who is a playmaker and has proven his worth at PSV Einhoven in Holland, where he's been playing on loan from relegated Fulham. Pinto brought in six options to choose from in his forwards, and with Ruiz and Campbell pretty much guaranteed, Saborío, Brenes, Arrieta, and Ureña will be competing for a spot.

The most likely contenders will be Arrieta and Soborio. Arrieta has impressed in Major League Soccer with Colombus Crew, having been named League Player of the Week for his multiple goal games. Saborio, also in MLS with Real Salt Lake, boasts 46 goals in 80 appearances for his club since 2011. At 30 and 32, both add veteran leadership within the role to compliment Ruiz and a young Campbell.

While many view this Costa Rica team as the underdog of their group, they're a deep squad with many possible combinations from back to front. Their warm up friendly against Ireland at PPL Park on June 2 will give Pinto an idea of what his men are capable of as they head into crunch time in Brazil.